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All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

2021 Cowcatcher Magazine

All issues priced at $5.95 unless otherwise noted. Includes shipping in the U.S.

Vintage Essential – January/February 2021: Since its inception 31 years ago, the McKinney Avenue Trolley has evolved from a nostalgic ride in a trendy Dallas neighborhood to a key link in Big D. PLUS, readers say the state of model railroading is good, but growing the hobby remains a big challenge; the Crossville Model Railroad Club in Crossville, TN, runs trains for the public and tells the region’s railroad history along the way; Rapido Trains’ HO Flexi-Flo hopper delivers on detail and variety; and the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific bridge has weathered time to provide a key link across the Red River.

January/February 2021




Pressing Ahead – March/April 2021: Once one of Dallas/Fort Worth’s premier model railroad club layouts, the HO-scale Gulf & Denver Railroad Authority is rebuilding from the ground up. PLUS, a new administration on Capitol Hill that favors rail could hold big things for Amtrak; a thin line of trees provides visually pleasing separation on the N-scale Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad; The Colorado Eagle retained all the amenities of first-class travel 20 years after its arrival; and ScaleTrains.com acquires HO and S tooling from M>T.H. Electric Trains.

March/April 2021




Tele-help – May/June 2021: Big data is getting bigger in railroading when it comes to tracking freight cars. PLUS, the N-scale Bayou City & Gulf has been a fixture at a Houston train store for decades and an ambassador to model railroading; the proposed Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific merger holds opportunity for a seamless North American rail network; The Golden Age of Passenger Travel heads east on the Baltimore & Ohio’s National Limited; and Watco purchases Canadian National’s non-core lines and assets on the Soo subdivision.

May/June 2021




Backed Up – July/August 2021: Manufacturers are juggling supply shortages of electronic devices, including those that support DCC model railroad equipment. PLUS, Norfolk & Western No. 611 returns to the Strasburg Rail Road for special excursions; the HO-scale Mystic Branch offers eight steps for preparing engines and cars for operations; Rapido’s HO-scale Southern Pacific SW1200 locomotive sounds off with plenty of muscle and might; and the Pan American was the “beauty of the Southland” for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. And more!

July/August 2021 $6.25

Backed Up – September/October 2021: Grapevine, TX, which enjoys robust tourism, has become a total rail destination with the link of TEXRail to DFW International Airport and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. PLUS, the HO Rock Harbor Railroad employs a homemade carfloat system to deliver cars; modeling a modern-day printing operation on the Whitehurst & Pine Ridge Railroad; ScaleTrain.com’s HO Bethlehem Steel Co. F68CH flatcar doesn’t buckle under pressure; and the East Troy Railroad Museum welcomes the return of former Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Car No. 761. And more!

September/October 2021 $6.25




Springmaid Line – November/December 2021: The history-rich Lancaster & Chester Railroad short line has become ingrained in north central South Carolina and is enjoying a very active growth mode. PLUS, the N-scale Gateway Grain Railway packs detail in a small space; Northland Rail aims to boost marketing for model railroad and railroad organizations behind the expertise of veteran hobbyists; Large newspaper press rooms depended on rail for delivering paper, as told in the second part of the Cowcatcher’s series on modeling a modern-day newspaper production facility; the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad marks 50 years (plus one) of narrow-gauge excursions between Chama, NM, and Antonito, CO; and take a ride on the Rocky Mountaineer’s newest excursion, “Rockies to the Red Rocks.”

November/December 2021 $6.25




Current Issue: May/June2026

$6.95 (U.S. Orders Only)

O Triad

The O-scale Reader & Caney Creek, the Virginian Railway and the Cheapskate & Ohio are distinctly different. Well-known among Southwest O-scalers, the protolance 2-rail Virginian is spectacularly scenicked and spans over 1,200 square feet. Same with the freelance Cheapskate & Ohio, still mostly under construction. It showcases fine-scale 2-rail modeling integrated with hi-rail AC toy trains. The around-the-walls Reader & Caney Creek is proof that 2-rail doesn’t require a ballroom. While they share a size more associated with nostalgia and collecting than fine-scale model railroading, the layouts embody a very individual spirit. And the goal isn't necessarily running trains.

Craftsman Courtyard

Laser-cut craftsman kit makers on the East Coast are working together to change the dynamic of a model railroad segment traditionally reserved for elite modelers because of its reputation for complex kits requiring extensive handwork. Through affordable, easy-to-assemble wood kits, the companies are attracting the experienced and beginners alike.

Mail on the Rails

For a century, “these couriers” included the railroads and what was known for most if its life as the Railway Mail Service. In 1950 more than 14,000 clerks toiled away sorting mail in Railway Post Offices on 3,000 moving trains.

Plus

The Northeast Outdoor Railway Festival is adding a new touch by creating a citywide large-scale experience in Palmer, MA; OminTRAX buys three Arkansas short lines to expand into a new growing market; a recent release of a Denver & Rio Grande Western caboose fills a niche with classic paint; InterMountain Railway's HO 5161 Trinity hoppers feature BNSF's Heritage roads; and an ex-Canadian National Railway F7A finds a home. And more!